Rotating device

ABSTRACT

A rotating device according to the present invention comprises a motor, a connection terminal electrically connecting the motor with an external device, and a housing accommodating the motor and the connection terminal. The connection terminal includes a bent portion bent in a direction crossing an insertion direction or a removal direction of the connection terminal. The housing includes a contact surface in contact with the bent portion.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a rotating device.

BACKGROUND

A rotating device is known including a motor and a housing accommodatingthe motor, configured to transmit rotational power to an externaldevice, and including a crank-shaped terminal connecting the motor withthe external device (see Patent Literature 1, for example).

Another rotating device is known including a motor, a board providedwith wires, and a flexible board electrically connecting the motor withthe board provided with wires, and the flexible board includes lands ata terminal portion connected by soldering (see Patent Literature 2, forexample).

Still another rotating device is known including a gear rotated by amotor to transmit rotational power to an external device, a sensorconfigured to detect the number of rotations or a rotational angle ofthe gear, and a housing accommodating these components. The sensorincludes a brush configured to be rotated together with the gear and awiring board provided with a wire pattern in electrical contact with thebrush (see Patent Literature 3, for example).

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No.2011-041382

Patent Literature 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No.2015-216844 Patent Literature 3: Japanese Utility Model ApplicationLaid-open No. H01-123451 SUMMARY Technical Problem

The terminal of the rotating device disclosed in Patent Literature 1above may not be reliable enough to withstand an external force exertedin a removal direction. The structure of the rotating device disclosedin Patent Literature 2 above may not be reliable enough to keep theflexible board firmly connected. The structure of the rotating devicedisclosed in Patent Literature 3 has a room for improvement in thedisposition of the wiring board to prevent degradation of the sensorperformance.

The present invention treats any one of the above-described problem asan example of problems, and an object of the present invention toprovide a rotating device capable of achieving higher reliability orhigher performance.

Solution to Problem

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is graspedby the following constitution. A rotating device comprises a motor, aconnection terminal electrically connecting the motor with an externaldevice, and a housing accommodating the motor and the connectionterminal. The connection terminal includes a bent portion bent in adirection crossing an insertion direction or a removal direction of theconnection terminal. The housing includes a contact surface in contactwith the bent portion.

A rotating device according to the present invention comprises a motor,a board provided with a wire, and a flexible board electricallyconnecting the board provided with the wire with the motor. The flexibleboard and the board provided with the wire are overlapped via a bondingmember. The flexible board includes a first land including a hole. Thebonding member is in contact with a second land included in the boardprovided with the wire through the hole.

A rotating device according to the present invention comprises a gear, amotor configured to rotate the gear, a sensor configured to detectnumber of rotations or a rotational angle of the gear, and a housingaccommodating the gear, the motor, and the sensor. The sensor includes abrush configured to be rotated together with the gear, and a boardprovided with an arc-shaped wire in electrical contact with the brush.The board provided with the wire is provided with a first hole disposedinside of the arc-shaped wire and rotatable with respect to a rotatingshaft of the gear, and a second hole allowing passage of a protrudingportion provided to the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rotating device according to anembodiment with a first casing and a second casing being separated.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the rotating device accordingto the embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a plan view of the rotating device according to theembodiment with the second casing removed from the rotating device.

FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the second casing.

FIG. 4A is a sectional view illustrating the disposition of a boardprovided with wires.

FIG. 4B is a sectional view illustrating a first support.

FIG. 4C is a sectional view illustrating a second support.

FIG. 4D is a sectional view illustrating a third support.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a terminal.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connection terminalaccording to a modification.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view illustrating a fixing part in the firstcasing for fixing connection terminals.

FIG. 7B is a perspective view illustrating the fixing part in the secondcasing for fixing the connection terminals.

FIG. 7C is a schematic view illustrating the fixing part for fixing theconnection terminal.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a holding member configured tohold the connection terminals.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a bonding state between theboard provided with wires and a flexible board.

FIG. 10A is a sectional view illustrating the bonding state between theboard provided with wires and the flexible board.

FIG. 10B is a diagram illustrating a portion of a first planar portionof the flexible board.

FIG. 11A is a plan view of the rotating device according to anotherembodiment with a second casing removed from the rotating device.

FIG. 11B is a perspective view of a flexible board included in therotating device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 11C is a plan view of a rotating device according to still anotherembodiment with the second casing being removed.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a connection terminalprovided at the connector portion of the rotating device according toanother embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following describes modes (hereinafter, called “embodiments”) forcarrying out the present invention will be described in detail based onthe accompanying drawings. The same components are denoted by the samereference signs throughout the description of the embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rotating device according to anembodiment with a first casing and a second casing being separated. FIG.2 is an exploded perspective view of the rotating device according tothe embodiment. FIG. 3A is a plan view of the rotating device accordingto the embodiment with the second casing being removed. FIG. 3B is abottom view of the second casing. FIG. 4A is a sectional viewillustrating the disposition of a board provided with wires. FIG. 4B isa sectional view illustrating a first support. FIG. 4C is a sectionalview illustrating a second support. FIG. 4D is a sectional viewillustrating a third support.

This rotating device 1 according to the embodiment is used in, forexample, a vehicle air conditioning system (not illustrated), and cancontrol a rotational operation of a louver for controlling, for example,an air volume. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the rotating device 1 includesa housing 2 accommodating a functional part including, for example, amotor 3, an output gear 5, a plurality of transmission gears 6, and asensor 7. These components will be described later.

The housing 2 includes separable first and second casings 21 and 22.Each of the first casing 21 and the second casing 22 is made of a resinmaterial, such as polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, oracrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

The first casing 21 includes a first surface portion 210 serving as abottom surface of the housing 2 (FIG. 4A), a first sidewall 211 providedat an outer circumferential portion of the first surface portion 210,and an opening 212. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3A, the first casing21 includes a protruding portion 218 at an inner surface of a firstsurface portion 210 for use in positioning a board 700 provided withwires included in the sensor (angle sensor) 7.

The second casing 22 includes a second surface portion 220 serving as atop surface of the casing 2 (FIG. 4A), a second sidewall 221 provided atan outer circumferential portion of the second surface portion 220, andan opening 222 surrounded by the second sidewall 221. As illustrated inFIG. 3B, the second casing 22 includes a first step portion 201 on aninner surface of the second surface portion 220 configured to supportthe board 700 provided with wires. As illustrated in FIG. 4D, the firstcasing 21 includes a protruding portion 201 a configured to hold theboard 700 provided with wires together with the first step portion 201.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3B, 4A, and 4D, the second casing 22 includes atubular support portion 228 configured to rotatably support an endportion of a rotating shaft 51 of the output gear 5 and having a tip endportion serving as a second step portion 202 configured to support theboard 700 provided with wires. As illustrated in FIG. 3B, an outercircumference of the second casing 22 is provided with four mountingportions 23, 24, 25, and 26 for mounting the rotating device 1 in apredetermined position when the rotating device 1 is installed in, forexample, the air conditioning system.

In this way, the housing 2 is configured by connecting the first casing21 including the opening 212 to the second casing 22 including theopening 222 in a state where the openings 212 and 222 oppose each other.

A plurality of projections (hereinafter referred to as engagementprojections 213) are integrally formed at the first sidewall 211 of thefirst casing 21, and the projections correspond to a plurality ofengagement portions 223 of the second casing 22. The engagement portions223 are integrally formed with an outer circumference of the secondsidewall 221 of the second casing 22 such that the engagement portions223 extend toward the first casing 21. The engagement projections 213are engaged with the engagement portions 223. Some of the engagementportions 223 include a hole (hereinafter referred to as an engagementstep portion(or step portion) 224). Some of the engagement projections213 are engaged with such engagement step portions (step portions) 224.

The first casing 21 and the second casing 22 are put together and theengagement projections 213 are engaged with the engagement portions 223.Accordingly, the first casing 21 and the second casing 22 are firmlyintegrated to configure the housing 2 capable of accommodating thefunctional part including various components.

In the present embodiment, the first casing 21 is provided with theengagement projections 213, and the second casing 22 is provided withthe engagement portions 223. However, the first casing 21 may beprovided with the engagement portions 223, and the second casing 22 isprovided with the engagement projections 213.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a part of the first side wall 211 ofthe first casing 21 and a part of the second side wall 221 of the secondcasing 22 are respectively provided with projecting portions 219 and 229corresponding to each other.

In the present embodiment, the projecting portions 219 and 229 projectin a direction of a rotating shaft of the motor 3 extending. Theprojecting portions 219 and 229 are joined to form a connector portion20 (see FIG. 4), a plurality of connection terminals 4 to be describedlater being arranged inside the connector portion. The connector portion20 includes a fixing part 215 (see FIG. 7C) capable of firmly holdingthe connection terminals 4. The connector portion 20 is connected withan external connector via the connection terminals 4 held by the fixingpart 215, and the motor 3 to be described later can be electricallyconnected with an external device. Details of the fixing part 215 willbe described later.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3A, the rotating device 1 according to thepresent embodiment includes, as various components configuring thefunctional part, at least the motor 3, the output gear 5 configured tomechanically output the rotation of the motor 3 to an external device,the transmission gears 6 configured to transmit the rotation of themotor 3 to the output gear 5, and the sensor 7 configured to detect therotational angle or the number of rotations of the output gear 5. Therotating device 1 can control the rotation of the motor 3 based on therotational angle or the number of rotations of the output gear 5detected by the sensor 7.

The plurality of transmission gears 6 include a first transmission gear61 and a second transmission gear 62 each configured to include multiplestages. The rotation of the motor 3 is transmitted from a worm gear 32mounted on a rotating shaft 31 (FIG. 3A) and engaged with the firsttransmission gear 61, to the output gear 5, via the second transmissiongear 62. Accordingly, the rotating shaft 51 of the output gear 5 canrotate a driven member coupled with, for example, a louver (notillustrated) of an air conditioning system.

The following describes specific mounting structures of the componentsincluded in the functional part with reference to FIGS. 5 to 10 inaddition to FIGS. 1 to 4D. FIG. 5 is a side view of the connectionterminal 4. FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A inFIG. 5. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connectionterminal according to a modification. FIG. 7A is a perspective viewillustrating the fixing part 215 in the first casing 21 for fixing theconnection terminals 4. FIG. 7B is a perspective view illustrating thefixing part 215 in the second casing 22 for fixing the connectionterminals 4. FIG. 7C is a schematic view illustrating the fixing part215 for fixing the connection terminals 4. FIG. 8 is a perspective viewillustrating a holding member configured to hold the connectionterminals 4. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a bonding statebetween the board provided with wires and the flexible board. FIG. 10Ais a sectional view illustrating the bonding state between the boardprovided with wires and the flexible board. FIG. 10B is a diagramillustrating a portion of a first planar portion of the flexible board.

(Motor 3)

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3A, the motor 3 is a driving source forrotating the output gear 5. In the present embodiment, a direct-current(DC) motor is used as the motor 3. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the motor 3includes a body 30 including an outer shell (frame) formed in aquadrangular prismatic outer shape including curved corners, therotating shaft (shaft) 31, the worm gear 32 mounted on the rotatingshaft 31, and a pair of motor terminals 33, 33.

(Transmission Gears 6)

The transmission gears 6 are gears configured to transmit the rotationof the rotating shaft 31 of the motor 3 to the output gear 5 at apredetermined reduction ratio (gear ratio). In the present embodiment,as described above, the transmission gears 6 include the firsttransmission gear 61 and the second transmission gear 62 both includemultiple stages.

More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the transmission gears 6 inthe embodiment include the first transmission gear 61 including a firstlarge diameter portion 611 and a first small diameter portion 612, andthe second transmission gear 62 including a second small diameterportion 621 and a second large diameter portion 622. The first smalldiameter portion 612 moving together with the first large diameterportion 611 meshes with the second large diameter portion 621 of thesecond transmission gear 62, and the second small diameter portion 622moving together with the second large diameter portion 621 meshes withthe output gear 5.

Since the first transmission gear 61 and the second transmission gear 62are interposed between the motor 3 and the output gear 5, the rotationof the rotating shaft 31 of the motor 3 can be transmitted to therotating shaft 51 of the output gear 5 at a predetermined gear ratio.The transmission gears may include the worm gear 32 mounted on therotating shaft 31 of the motor 3, in addition to the first transmissiongear 61 and the second transmission gear 62.

In the present embodiment, the transmission gears 6 including the firstand second transmission gears 61 and 62 are used to transmit therotation of the rotating shaft 31 of the motor 3 to the output gear 5 atan appropriate reduction ratio using a small space in the housing 2. thefirst and second transmission gears 61 and 62 includes the multi-stage.However, the structure of the transmission gears 6 is not limited to thestructure described in the present embodiment, and may be modified asappropriate to include, for example, a plurality of single-stagetransmission gears.

(Output Gear 5)

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the output gear 5 includes the rotating shaft51 serving as an output shaft and a disc-shaped gear body 52 integrallyformed with the rotating shaft 51. The rotating shaft 51 includes an endportion 512 rotatably supported by the second surface portion 220 of thesecond casing 22 and an output part 510 disposed opposite to the endportion 512 and including tooth row 511 formed on the inner surface. Theoutput part 510 is disposed in the first casing 21.

The gear body 52 is located at an outer side of the output part 510. Thegear body 52 includes teeth 513 formed on the outer circumferentialsurface and meshing with the second small diameter portion 622 of thesecond transmission gear 62. The rotation of the motor 3 is thustransmitted to the output gear 5.

For example, a drive shaft provided with splines can be fitted to theoutput part 510. As the drive shaft is rotated, for example, a louver ofan air-conditioning system for using a vehicle can be rotated.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the rotating shaft 51 of the output gear 5includes a step portion 515 configured to support, between the stepportion 515 and the second casing 22, the board 700 provided with wires,the sensor 7 to be described later having the wires. In other words, theboard 700 provided with wires of the sensor 7 is provided with a firsthole 710 (see FIGS. 2 and 9) allowing the rotating shaft 51 of theoutput gear 5 to pass through the first hole 710. When the rotatingshaft 51 is inserted in the first hole 710, the board 700 provided withwires is supported by the step portion 515. Accordingly, the first hole710 is fixed to the rotating shaft 51.

The rotating device 1 is not necessarily directly coupled to a driveshaft to be rotated with the output gear 5. For example, another gearsuch as a reduction gear may be interposed between the rotating device 1and the drive shaft to be rotated.

(Sensor 7)

As described above, for example, to control the rotational operation ofthe louver of a vehicle air-conditioning system in a predeterminedstate, the rotating device 1 needs to detect, for example, therotational angle of the output gear 5 by using the sensor 7.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the sensor 7 includes the board 700 providedwith wires and a brush 75. The brush 75 is made of an electricallyconductive material and is mounted on a surface of the output gear 5 inthe second casing 22 side to be rotated with the output gear 5. Asillustrated in FIG. 9, the board 700 provided with wires includes anarc-shaped first wire (hereinafter referred to as a wire pattern) 701and an arc-shaped second wire (hereinafter referred to as a wirepattern) 702 in electrical contact with contacts 751 and 752 of thebrush 75, respectively.

The board 700 provided with wires is made of, for example, an epoxyresin including a thickness of approximately 300 μm to approximately1600 μm, and includes a rectangular-shaped portion at one side and acircular-shaped portion at the other side. As illustrated in FIG. 9,first wire pattern 701 having a high-resistance and second wire pattern702 having a low resistance are formed in an arc shape about the firsthole 710. In other words, the first wire pattern 701 and the second wirepattern 702 are arranged concentrically with respect to the first hole710.

Opposite end portions of the outer first wire pattern 701 undergoelectrically pattern connection with land portions 703 a and 703 c(second lands) disposed in a edge side of the area having arectangular-shape. In the same manner, a portion of the second wirepattern 702 disposed inside the first wire pattern 701 undergoeselectrically pattern connection with a land portion 703 b (second land)disposed between the land portions 703 a and 703 c. As the detail willbe described later, the land portions 703 are soldered to first lands803, which is the land portions formed at the flexible board 8 servingas a board. The land portions 703 a, 703 b, and 703 c may becollectively referred to as second lands 703.

The first wire pattern 701 and the second wire pattern 702 configure arotary variable resistor. In other words, as contact positions of thecontacts 751 and 752 of the brush 75 change in the circumferentialdirection in accordance with the rotation of the output gear 5, theresistance value of a path from the one land portion 703 a at one end tothe land portion 703 c at the other end changes.

When, for example, the contact positions of the brush 75 change in thecircumferential direction while a certain voltage is applied between theland portion 703 a at one end and the land portion 703 c at the otherend, the voltage between the land portion 703 a and the land portion 703c varies. The relation between the change in the contact positions ofthe brush 75 and the change in the voltage is linearly proportional andthus the rotational angle of the output gear 5 can be detected from thechange in voltage.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the board 700 provided with wires is providedwith, in addition to the first hole 710, a second hole 720 and a thirdhole 730 disposed at positions of the vertexes of an isosceles trianglewith the first hole 710 being the apex (see FIGS. 2 and 9).

The second hole 720 allows passage of the protruding portion 218 (FIG.2) provided to the first casing 21. The second hole 720 includes anelongated circular shape to provide a certain interval from theprotruding portion 218 including a circular column shape.

The third hole 730 is formed for use in positioning the flexible board 8in the soldering process to be described later.

As described above, the second casing 22 includes the first step portion201 and the second step portion 202 configured to support the board 700provided with wires. In the present embodiment, the first step portion201 is disposed close to the third hole 730 in the second casing 22.

Accordingly, the board 700 provided with wires is supported at threepoints, at a first support a1, a second support a2, and a third supporta3. In other words, the first support a1 is configured by the stepportion 515 provided to the rotating shaft 51 of the output gear 5 andthe second step portion 202 provided to the tubular support portion 228of the second casing 22. The second support a2 is configured by theprotruding portion 218 provided to the first casing 21 and a tubularportion 203 provided to the second casing 22. The third support a3 isconfigured by the first step portion 201 provided to the second casing22 and the protruding portion 201 a provided to the first casing 21. Theboard 700 provided with wires is supported at these three points andthus can be disposed in the housing 2 more accurately parallel to thehousing 2.

At the first support a1, a interval is provided between the rotatingshaft 51 of the output gear 5 and the first hole 710 in the radialdirection for a interval fit. At the second support a2, a interval isprovided between the protruding portion 218 and the first hole 710 inthe radial direction for a interval fit. At the third support a3, ainterval is provided between the board 700 provided with wires and thefirst step portion 201 and the protruding portion 201 a in the directionof the rotating shaft 51 for a interval fit.

As described above, the first hole 710 disposed at the center of thearc-shaped first and second wire patterns 701 and 702 provides ainterval fit for the rotating shaft 51 of the output gear 5, and theprotruding portion 218 provided at the housing 2 passes through thesecond hole 720 at the board 700 provided with wires.

Specifically, the intervals provided between the rotating shaft 51 ofthe output gear 5 and the first hole 710 and between the protrudingportion 218 and the second hole 720 fall within certain tolerances. Inaddition, the intervals provided between the board 700 provided withwires and each of the protruding portion 218, the first step portion201, and the second step portion 202 fall within certain tolerances.

Accordingly, this structure can reduce the difference between the centerof the two wire patterns 701 and 702 configuring a variable resistor andthe center of rotation of the brush 75 as much as possible, and theboard 700 provided with wires can be accurately positioned and fixed inthe housing 2. Accordingly, the functions of the sensor 7 can be fullyimplemented without reducing the linearity (linear proportionalrelation) between the change in contact positions of the brush 75relative to the wire patterns 701 and 702 and the change in voltage.

The linearity (linear proportional relation) is determined by therotational angle of the output gear 5 and the resistance value of thevariable resistor. Specifically, the linearity is determined by therotational angle of the brush 75 and the resistance value of the wirepatterns 701 and 702. Aligning the first hole 710 of the board 700provided with wires with the rotating shaft 51 of the output gear 5 canincrease the linearity.

(Connection Terminals 4)

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the connection terminals 4 are terminalsconnected to an external connector connected to the rotating device 1,and the connection terminals 4 are disposed in the connector portion 20.As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3A, and 9, the rotating device 1 according tothe present embodiment includes five connection terminals 4. Twoterminals are connected to the motor 3 and three terminals are connectedto the board 700 provided with wires of the sensor 7 via the flexibleboard 8 to be described later.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the connection terminals 4 include a crankshape including a first extending portion 41 (a portion of theconnection terminal 4), a bent portion 40, and a second extendingportion 42 (another portion of the connection terminal 4).

The bent portion 40 is bent in a direction crossing the insertiondirection or the removal direction of the connector portion 20 to orfrom an external connector. The bent portion 40 includes a first corner401 and a second corner 402 bent in opposite directions of a directionorthogonal to the removal direction, and a middle portion 403 connectingthe first corner 401 with the second corner 402.

In other words, the connection terminals 4 disposed in the connectorportion 20 are formed in a crank shape including the bent portion 40,and including the first extending portion 41 and the second extendingportion 42 extending in the removal direction. The first extendingportion 41 extends in the removal direction with an end extending towardoutside of the housing 2 from the first corner 401. The second extendingportion 42 is formed parallel to the first extending portion 41 andextends from the second corner 402 toward the inside of the housing 2.An end portion of the first extending portion 41 is electricallyconnected with an external device, and an end of the second extendingportion 42 is electrically connected with the motor 3 or the sensor 7.

As illustrated in FIG. 6A, the connection terminals 4 according to thepresent embodiment include a rectangular cross-section, and are formedwith a bent metal member having a bar shape and flat angles.Accordingly, this structure facilitates forming of the bent portion 40and can increase the strength of the connection terminals 4. Thisstructure can also prevent increase in material costs and manufacturingcosts of the connection terminals 4 and can in turn reduce the overallcost of the rotating device 1. The cross-section of the connectionterminals 4 is not limited to a rectangular shape, and may be a squareshape as illustrated in FIG. 6B, may be a pentagonal shape or any otherpolygonal shapes with more sides than those of a pentagon, or may be acircular shape.

The connection terminals 4 according to the present embodiment aredisposed such that the bent portion 40 is in contact with contactsurfaces 216 formed at the housing 2. In other words, as illustrated inFIG. 7A, a wall portion 219 a is formed at deep inside the projectingportion 219 of the first casing 21 configuring the connector portion 20.A first fixing part 215 a including a first contact surface 216 a isprovided at the opening 212 side of the wall portion 219 a. On the otherhand, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, the second surface portion 220 ispositioned at deep inside the projecting portion 229 of the secondcasing 22 configuring the connector portion 20. a second fixing part 215b including a protruding shape and including a second contact surface216 b is provided at the second surface portion 220. As illustrated inFIG. 7C, when the first casing 21 and the second casing 22 are puttogether, the contact surfaces 216 is formed inside the housing 2 andhas the contact surfaces 216 by the first fixing part 215 a and thesecond fixing part 215 b opposing each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 7C, the second casing 22 includes a protrudingportion 22 c, a step portion 22 d, and a recessed portion 22 e. Theprotruding portion 22 c, the step portion 22 d, and the recessed portion22 e forms an engagement portion 22 f. The first fixing part 215 a ofthe first casing 21 is formed with a protruding portion includes aprotruding shape and configures an engagement portion 21 f (see FIG. 1)to be engaged with the engagement portion 22 f. The engagement portion21 f of the first casing 21 and the engagement portion 22 f of thesecond casing 22 are engaged with the first corner 401 and the secondcorner 402, respectively.

As described above, the housing 2 according to the present embodimentincludes the contact surfaces 216 in contact with the bent portion 40 ofthe connection terminals 4. Accordingly, the force exerted in theinsertion direction or the removal direction of the connection terminals4 can be received by the surfaces of the housing 2, and the resistanceof the connection terminals 4 to an external force exerted in theinsertion direction or the removal direction can be easily and reliablyincreased.

As illustrated in FIG. 7C, the fixing part 215 includes a recessedportion 217 to be engaged with the bent portion 40 of the connectionterminals 4. In other words, the recessed portion 217 is formed tocreate a interval between the first fixing part 215 a provided at thefirst casing 21 and the second fixing part 215 b provided at the secondcasing 22 such that the connection terminals 4 can be arranged at theinterval. The bent portion 40 of the connection terminals 4 is engagedwith the recessed portion 217 formed in this manner. Accordingly, thebent portion 40 of the connection terminals 4 is easily engaged with therecessed portion 217 by disposing the connection terminals 4 at thefixing part 215, and the connection terminals 4 can be easily andsecurely fixed.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8 to 10B, the rotating device 1 accordingto the present embodiment includes a rectangular plate-shaped holdingmember 9 configured to hold a plurality of (five) connection terminals 4in a line. The holding member 9 includes as through-holes 91 as thenumber of connection terminals 4 to be held. Since number of connectionterminals 4 is five in the present embodiment, the holding member 9includes five through-holes 91 disposed at certain intervals in thelongitudinal direction as illustrated in FIG. 8.

The holding member 9 is disposed in contact with an inner surface of thewall portion 219 a where the first fixing part 215 a of the first casing21 is provided. Accordingly, the five connection terminals 4 can bedisposed easily and collectively at the fixing part 215 of the housing2, and the resistance of the five connection terminals 4 to an externalforce exerted in the removal direction can be collectively increased.

(Flexible Board 8)

The flexible board 8 as a board is made of a flexible film. The flexibleboard 8 includes a structure including an adhesive layer and aconductor, for example. The adhesive layer is provided on a film (resinsubstrate) including a thickness of, for example, approximately 12 μm to50 μm. The conductor includes a thickness of, for example, approximately12 μm to approximately 50 μm and is printed or pasted onto the adhesivelayer. The film is formed of an insulating resin material, such aspolyimide or polyester, for example. The conductor is formed of a metalmaterial, such as copper, for example. The adhesive layer is formed ofan epoxy resin or an acrylic resin, for example. The flexible board 8described above can restore a form before being bent even when beingbent at an angle of 90 degrees or larger.

Accordingly, if vibrations are generated by the rotation of the motor 3and the vibrations are transmitted to the flexible board 8, suchvibrations can be absorbed. The flexible board 8, which is electricallyconnected with the motor 3, the sensor 7, and the connection terminals 4joined by a bonding member such as solder 78, can avoid application ofhigh stress to the joint portions between these components, and thus canprevent cracks or damages on the joint portions and can prevent theresulting breakage and disconnection.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the flexible board 8 mainly includes threeplanar portions 81, 82, and 83. In other words, the flexible board 8includes a first planar portion 81 including the first lands 803connected with the board 700 provided with wires, a second planarportion 82 connected to the motor terminals 33, and a third planarportion 83 connecting the first planar portion 81 with the second planarportion 82. The second planar portion 82 configures a side portion ofthe flexible board 8 and includes a substantially semi-circular recess802 to let an end portion of the motor 3 pass through.

The first planar portion 81 faces the board 700 provided with wires. Asillustrated in FIG. 10B, the first planar portion 81 includes a portionconnected with the connection terminals 4, a portion 804 connected withthe board 700 provided with wires via the first lands 803, and holes805. The portion 804 connected with the board 700 provided with wires isa surface opposing the board 700 provided with wires. As illustrated inFIG. 10A, a bent portion 800 is formed between an end portion 81 a(first end portion) of the portion connected with the connectionterminals 4 and an end portion 81 b (second end portion) of the portionconnected with the board 700 provided with wires.

misalignment in the removal direction of the connection terminals 4 insoldering the first planar portion 81 with the board 700 provided withwires via the first lands 803 are absorbed by providing the bent portion800. To determine an approximate soldering position of the flexibleboard 8, a hole provided at an end portion of the first planar portion81 may be used for alignment with the third hole 730 provided at theboard 700 provided with wires for use in positioning as illustrated inFIG. 9.

As illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the first lands 803 at the firstplanar portion 81 of the flexible board 8 include the holes 805. Whenthe flexible board 8 is soldered, the solder 78 used as the bondingmember is in contact with the second lands 703 at the board 700 providedwith wires via the holes 805.

In soldering the flexible board 8 with the board 700 provided with wiresby using the solder 78, the solder 78 may be deposited from a portion ofeach first land 803 to a portion of each second land 703. Thisconfiguration can facilitate bonding the flexible board 8 with the board700 provided with wires by use of the solder 78 and can easily guide thesolder 78 to the holes 805 of the first lands 803 to bring the solder 78into contact with the second lands 703.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, a third wire 704 connected to the first wirepattern 701, and a plurality of fourth wires 705 connected to the secondwire pattern 702 are formed at the board 700 provided with wires. Asillustrated in FIG. 10B, a plurality of recesses 806 are provided at aside portion 84 of the flexible board 8 on the extensions of the thirdwire 704 and the fourth wires 1705.

By providing the holes 805 and the recesses 806 at the flexible board 8,two types of ridges L1 and L2 are formed at the solder 78 straggling theflexible board 8 and the board 700 provided with wires. By increasinglengths of two types of ridges L1 and L2, the adhesion between theflexible board 8 and the board 700 provided with wires can be increased,and it can prevent lifting of the flexible board 8. The recesses 806 maybe used for positioning the third wire 704 and the fourth wires 705connected to the second wire pattern 702 relative to a plurality ofholes 707.

Although the flexible board 8 according to the present embodimentincludes a simple structure, this simple structure implements directbonding between the first lands 803 of the flexible board 8 and thesecond lands 703 of the board 700 provided with wires using the solder78 through the holes 805. Therefore, adhesion is increased. Accordingly,the flexible board 8 can be easily and firmly bonded to the board 700provided with wires without lift. Specifically, in the presentembodiment, as described above, the flexible board 8 includes inparticular the bent portion 800. The bending of the bent portion 800applies force to the flexible board 8 in a lifting direction from theboard 700 provided with wires bonded with the flexible board 8, but thesufficient adhesion can prevent lifting of the flexible board 8 andreduce the possibilities of, for example, disconnection.

Described next is a rotating device 1 according to another embodiment.FIG. 11A is a plan view of the rotating device according to anotherembodiment with the second casing being removed. FIG. 11B is aperspective view of a flexible board included in the rotating deviceaccording to another embodiment. FIG. 11C is a plan view of a rotatingdevice according to still another embodiment with the second casingbeing removed. In FIGS. 11A to 11C, components including the same shapeor the same functions as those described in the embodiment above aregiven the same reference signs and, for example, their detaileddescriptions may be omitted.

The rotating device 1 illustrated in FIG. 11A differs from the rotatingdevice 1 described above in that the housing 2 includes a differentshape, a flexible board 810 electrically connecting the board 700provided with wires with the motor 3 includes a different shape, andslits 820 as an example of a slit part are formed at the flexible board810.

In other words, as illustrated, the first casing 21 configuring thehousing 2 of the rotating device 1 according to another embodimentincludes both end portions on the shorter sides of the housing 2. Tipportions 93 are formed at the both end portions on the shorter sides ofthe housing 2 and protrude outward a hole (joint hole) 94 is formed ateach of tip portions 93, and a fasteners (not illustrated) are insertedin the holes 94.

As illustrated in FIG. 11B, the flexible board 810 included in therotating device 1 according to another embodiment includes a pluralityof lands (hereinafter referred to as “terminal-side lands”) 832connected with a plurality of connection terminals 4 (see FIG. 11A) andincludes a plurality of first lands 831 to be connected with the board700 provided with wires. The terminal-side lands 832 are connected withthe first lands 831 via wires 833. The plurality of terminal-side lands832 are each connected with the connection terminals 4 and alsoconnected with, for example, lands on a board mounted with a certainelectronic component. On the other hand, the plurality of first lands831 are connected with, for example, terminals of the sensor 7 andterminals of the motor 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 11B, at the flexible board 810 y, the slits 820are provided from the terminal-side lands 832 toward the first lands831. The slits 820 are provided in parallel with the wires 833 in adirection of the rotating shaft 31. As illustrated, slit 820 includes acertain length and includes holes (circular holes) 820 a at both endportions to prevent cracks from forming from the end portions. Two endportions 820 b and 820 c oppose each other in a direction crossing theslits 820 (e.g., in a direction orthogonal to the extension direction ofthe wires 833). slit 820 is disposed between the two end portions 820 band 820 c. Accordingly, the flexible board 810 includes discontinuoussurfaces or discontinuous portions including the slits 820 in adirection crossing the slits 820.

If, for example, vibrations are generated by the rotation of the motor 3or an external force is exerted, the flexible board 810 can absorb suchvibrations or force to some extent. In the present embodiment, byproviding the slits 820 at the flexible board 810, it can preventdamages such as breakage of the wires 833 or can prevent disconnectionat the first lands 831 or at the terminal-side lands 832 if, forexample, a stress is applied to the flexible board 810.

Vibrations in the direction of the rotating shaft 31 of the motor 3(extension direction of the wires 833) can be reliably absorbed bybending of the flexible board 810 and vibrations in the directionorthogonal to the direction of the rotating shaft 31 of the motor 3 orin the extension direction of the wires 833 can be absorbed by relativedisplacement of the two end portions 820 b and 820 c at the both sidesof each slit 820 in a direction from the first casing 21 toward thesecond casing 22 (in a direction penetrating the surface of the flexibleboard 810). Accordingly, this configuration can prevent application ofhigh stress between the motor 3, the sensor 7, and the connectionterminals 4, even if a bonding member such as the solder 78 joins theflexible board 810 with the motor 3, the sensor7 and connectionterminals 4, and it can prevent cracks or damages from occurring at thejoint portions and can prevent the disconnection from occurring.

Described next is a flexible board 811 included in a rotating device 1according to still another embodiment. The rotating device 1 illustratedin FIG. 11C differs from the rotating device 1 described above or therotating device 1 illustrated in FIG. 11A in that the housing 2 includesa different shape and the flexible board 811 includes a different shape.The flexible board 811 also includes a plurality of slits 830 as anexample of a slit part. The slits 830 include two end portions 830 b and830 c opposing each other in a direction crossing the slits 830 (e.g.,in a direction in parallel with or orthogonal to the extension directionof the wires 833). slits 830 are disposed between the two end portions830 b and 830 c. Accordingly, the flexible board 810 includesdiscontinuous surfaces or discontinuous portions including the slits 830in a direction crossing the slits 830.

The wires 833 at the flexible board 811 according the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 11C includes bent portions in the middle of thewires 833. Some of the slits 830 extend in parallel with a portion ofthe bent wires 833 extending in an axial direction of the connectionterminals 4. The other slits 830 extend in parallel with a portion ofthe bent wires 833 extending in a direction orthogonal to the axialdirection of the connection terminals 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 11C, the slits 830 are simple linear slits withno circular holes 820 a (FIG. 11B), for example. In other words, theshape of the slits provided to the flexible board 810, 811 isillustrative and not limiting.

As described above, the rotating device 1 includes the motor 3, theboard 700 provided with wires, and the flexible board 811 electricallyconnecting the board 700 provided with wires and the motor 3. Theflexible board 811 can include a terminal-side land 832 connected withthe connection terminal 4, a first land 831, a wire 833 connecting thefirst land 831 with the terminal-side land 832, and a slit part.

A part of the flexible board 811 is slit, and the slit part may extendfrom the terminal-side land 832 toward the first land 831.

The flexible board 811 may include a plurality of first lands includingthe first land 831, a plurality of terminal-side lands including theterminal-side land 832, and a plurality of wires 833 connecting theplurality of first lands with the plurality of terminal-side lands. Theslit part may be disposed between the wires 833.

The terminal-side land 832 on the flexible board 811 may be connectedwith the connection terminal 4 or with a land on a board mounted with anelectronic component, and the first land 831 on the flexible board 811may be connected to a terminal of the sensor 7 or the motor terminal 33.

The rotating device 1 including the structure above can prevent breakageof the wire 833 or disconnection at the lands (first land 831 andterminal-side land 832) if a stress is applied to the flexible board 811due to the vibration of the rotating device 1 or an application of anexternal force.

The slit part is not limited to the slit part extending from theterminal-side land 832 toward the first land 831. The slit part mayextend in a direction crossing the direction from the terminal-side land832 toward the first land 831. The slit part may be formed along thewires 833.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a connection terminal according to yetanother embodiment. This connection terminal may be, for example, whatis called a drawn-wire flanged-header connection terminal 400. Asillustrated in FIG. 12, the connection terminal 400 includes asquare-bar-shaped terminal body 410, a bent portion 420 formed on an endportion side of the terminal body 410, and a flange portion 430 in amiddle of the connection terminal 400. A plurality of connectionterminals 400 can be collectively held by the holding member 9 (see FIG.8) with the flange portion 430 being engaged with the through-holes 91of the holding member 9. The drawn-wire flanged-header connectionterminal is not limited to the bent-type terminal including the bentportion 420 as illustrated in FIG. 12, and may be a linear type terminalwith no bent portion 420.

The first corner 401 and the second corner 402 of the connectionterminals 4 illustrated in FIG. 5 may be integrally formed with thehousing 2. This configuration can achieve a simple-shaped connectionterminal 4 and can reduce the size of the rotating device 1. Moreover,this configuration can easily and reliably increase the resistance ofthe connection terminals 4 to an external force exerted in the removaldirection and can increase reliability.

The embodiment described above provides the rotating device 1 describedbelow.

(1) The rotating device 1 includes a motor 3, a connection terminal 4electrically connecting the motor 3 with an external device, and ahousing 2 accommodating the motor 3 and the connection terminal 4. Theconnection terminal 4 includes a bent portion 40 bent in a directioncrossing an insertion direction or a removal direction of the connectionterminal 4. The housing 2 includes a contact surface 216 in contact withthe bent portion 40.

The rotating device 1 above can receive the force exerted in the removaldirection of the connection terminal 4 at a surface of the housing 2,and can easily and reliably increase the resistance of the connectionterminal 4 to an external force exerted in the removal direction.

(2) In the rotating device 1 in (1) above, the housing 2 includes afixing part 215 configured to fix the bent portion 40, and the fixingpart 215 includes the contact surface 216.

The rotating device 1 described above can firmly fix the connectionterminal 4 to the housing 2.

(3) In the rotating device 1 in (2) above, the fixing part 215 includesa recessed portion 217 engaged with the bent portion 40.

In the rotating device 1 described above, the bent portion 40 of theconnection terminal 4 can be easily engaged with the recessed portion217 by placing the connection terminal 4 at the fixing part 215, and theconnection terminal 4 can be easily fixed.

(4) In the rotating device 1 in any one of (1) to (3) above, theconnection terminal 4 is made of a bar-shaped member.

The connection terminal 4 of the rotating device 1 described above canbe easily bent and can be manufactured at lower material andmanufacturing costs. Accordingly, the rotating device 1 can bemanufactured at a lower cost.

(5) In the rotating device 1 in any one of (1) to (4) above, theconnection terminal 4 includes a polygonal cross-section.

The connection terminal 4 of the rotating device 1 above can easilyinclude a bent portion, and can include a higher strength.

(6) The rotating device 1 in any one of (1) to (5) above includes gears(transmission gears 6 and output gear 5) configured to transmit therotation of the motor 3 to an external device and the sensor 7configured to detect the rotational angle of the output gear 5, and aboard (for example, a flexible board 8) electrically connecting themotor 3, the sensor 7, and the connection terminal 4. And the board ismade of a flexible film.

The rotating device 1 above can control rotational power transmitted toan external device, and if vibrations are applied to the board,flexibility of the board can absorb vibrations. If the board iselectrically connected with the motor 3, the sensor 7, and theconnection terminals 4 joined by solder or the like, application of highstress to the joint portions between these components can be avoided,and thus can prevent cracks or damages on the joint portions and canprevent the disconnection.

(7) The rotating device 1 in any one of (1) to (6) above includes aplurality of terminals including the connection terminal 4, and aholding member 9 including a plate shape and configured to hold theplurality of connection terminals 4 in a line.

In the rotating device 1 above, the resistance of the connectionterminals 4 to an external force exerted in the removal direction can becollectively increased.

(8) In the rotating device 1 in any one of (1) to (7) above, the bentportion 40 includes a first corner 401 and a second corner 402 bent inopposite directions each other of a direction orthogonal to the removaldirection, and includes a middle portion 403 connecting the first corner401 with the second corner 402. The connection terminal 4 of therotating device 1 includes the bent portion 40, a first extendingportion 41 extending in the removal direction with an end extendingtoward outside of the housing 2 from the first corner 401, and a secondextending portion 42 extending in the removal direction from the secondcorner 402 toward the inside of the housing 2.

The connection terminal 4 of the rotating device 1 above can increaseresistance to an external force exerted in the removal direction and canbe easily manufactured by, for example, bending. Accordingly, therotating device 1 can be manufactured at a lower cost.

(9) The rotating device 1 includes a motor 3, a plurality of connectionterminals 4 electrically connecting the motor 3 with an external device,and a housing 2 accommodating the motor 3 and the connection terminals4. The holding member 9 configured to collectively hold a plurality ofconnection terminals 4 is disposed at the fixing part 215 of the housing2.

The rotating device 1 above can collectively increase the resistance ofthe connection terminals 4 to an external force exerted in the removaldirection regardless of the shape of the connection terminals 4.

(10) The rotating device 1 includes a motor 3, a connection terminal 4electrically connecting the motor 3 with an external device, and ahousing 2 accommodating the motor 3 and the connection terminal 4. Theconnection terminal 4 includes a first end portion electricallyconnected with the external device and a second end portion electricallyconnected with the motor 3, and the first corner 401 and the secondcorner 402 disposed between a first end portion and the second endportion. The first corner 401 and the second corner 402 are in contactwith the housing 2.

The rotating device 1 above can receive the force exerted in the removaldirection of the connection terminal 4 by a surface of the housing 2,and can easily and reliably increase the resistance of the connectionterminal 4 to an external force exerted in the removal direction.

(11) In the rotating device 1 in (10) above, the housing 2 includes afirst housing 21 and a second housing 22, and the first casing 21includes an engagement portion 21 f and the second casing 22 includes anengagement portion 22 f, and the first corner 401 and the second corner402 are engaged with the engagement portion 21 f and the engagementportion 22 f of the housing 2, respectively.

The rotating device 1 above can increase the effect of the rotatingdevice 1 in (10) above.

(12) In the rotating device 1 in (11) above, the engagement portion 21 fand the engagement portion 22 f are configured by a combination of arecessed portion 22 e, a protruding portion 22 c (215 a) and a stepportion 22 d.

The rotating device 1 above can implement a structure for increasing theresistance of the connection terminal to an external force exerted inthe removal direction upon assembly of the housing.

(13) The rotating device 1 in any one of (10) to (12) above includes aflexible board 8, and the flexible board 8 electrically connects theconnection terminal 4 with the motor 3.

The flexible board 8 of the rotating device 1 above can absorbvibrations, and this configuration can prevent application of a highstress to a joint portion of the connection terminal 4, and thus canprevent cracks or damages at the joint portions and can prevent thedisconnection in advance.

(14) The rotating device 1 in (13) above includes a transmission gear 6,an output gear 5, and an angle sensor 7 configured to detect arotational angle of the output gear 5, and the flexible board 8electrically connects the connection terminal 4, the motor 3, and theangle sensor 7.

The flexible board 8 of the rotating device 1 above can absorbvibrations, and this configuration can prevent application of a highstress to a joint portion of the connection terminal 4 with the motor 3or the angle sensor 7, and thus can prevent cracks or damages at thejoint portions and can prevent the disconnection.

(15) The rotating device 1 in any one of (10) to (14) above includes aplurality of connection terminals 4 including the connection terminal 4and the holding member 9 configured to hold the plurality of connectionterminals 4 lined in a predetermined direction.

The rotating device 1 above can collectively and neatly hold theconnection terminals 4 and can increase the resistance of the connectionterminals 4 to an external force exerted in the removal direction.

(16) In the rotating device 1, includes a motor 3, a connection terminal4 electrically connecting the motor 3 with an external device, and ahousing 2 accommodating the motor 3 and the connection terminal 4. Theconnection terminal 4 includes a first end portion electricallyconnected with the external device, a second end portion electricallyconnected with the motor 3, the first corner 401 as a first bent portionand the second corner 402 as a second bent portion disposed between thefirst end portion and the second end portion, and the first corner 401and the second corner 402 are integrally formed with the housing 2.

The rotating device 1 above can achieve a simple-shaped connectionterminal and can reduce the size of the rotating device. Moreover, thisconfiguration can easily and reliably increase the resistance of theconnection terminals 4 to an external force exerted in the removaldirection and can increase reliability.

(17) The rotating device 1 includes the motor 3, the board 700 providedwith a wire, and the flexible board 8 electrically connected with themotor 3 and the board 700 provided with the wire, and the flexible board8 and the board 700 provided with the wire are overlapped via a solder78 (bonding member) and bonded, and a first land (land portion) 803included in the flexible board 8 including a hole 805, and the solder 78is in contact with a second land (land portion) 703 in the board 700provided with the wire via the hole 805.

The flexible board 8 of the rotating device 1 above can be firmly bondedto the board 700 provided with the wire without lift with a simplestructure, and this configuration can prevent, for example,disconnection of wires.

(18) In the rotating device 1 in (17) above, the solder 78 (bondingmember) is disposed and straggled between a portion of the first land803 to a portion of the second land 703.

This configuration facilitates bonding using the solder 78 and caneasily guide the solder 78 to the hole 805 of the first land 803.

(19) In the rotating device 1 in (17) or (18) above, the flexible board8 includes a surface opposing the board 700 provided with the wire and aside portion, and the side portion includes a recess.

This configuration allows the flexible board 8 to be more firmly bondedwith the board 700 provided with the wire.

(20) The rotating device 1 in any one of (17) to (19) above includes theconnection terminal 4 electrically connecting the motor 3 with anexternal device, and the first land 803 of the flexible board 8 iselectrically connected with the connection terminal 4.

This configuration can facilitate electrical connection between themotor 3 and the external device via the flexible board 8 and theconnection terminal 4. Furthermore, vibrations are can be absorbed atthe flexible board 8 when vibrations are generated, and, for example,disconnection of wires due to the vibrations can be prevented inadvance.

(21) In the rotating device 1 in (20) above, the flexible board 8includes a bent portion 800 between an end portion connected with theconnection terminal 4 and another end portion provided with the firstland 803.

This configuration can absorb misalignment in the removal direction ofthe connection terminal 4 in connecting the flexible board 8 with theboard 700 provided with the wire.

(22) In the rotating device 1 in (20) or (21) above, a part of theflexible board 810, 811 is slit, and the slit part extends from theterminal-side land 832 connected with the connection terminal 4 towardthe first land 831.

This configuration can prevent breakage of the wire 833 or disconnectionat the lands (first land 831 and terminal-side land 832) if a stress isapplied to the flexible board 810, 811 due to the vibration of therotating device 1 or an application of an external force.

(23) In the rotating device 1 in (22) above, the flexible board 810, 811includes a plurality of first lands including the first land 831, aplurality of terminal-side lands including the terminal-side land 832,and a plurality of wires 833 connecting the plurality of first landswith the plurality of terminal-side lands, and the slit part is disposedbetween the plurality of wires 833.

(24) The rotating device 1 in (22) or (23) above further includes gears(transmission gears 6 and output gear 5) configured to transmit therotation of the motor 3 to an external device and the sensor 7configured to detect the rotational angle or the number of rotations ofthe output gear 5. The terminal-side land 832 of the flexible board 810,811 is connected with the connection terminal 4 or with a land of aboard provided with an electronic component and the first land 831 ofthe flexible board 810, 811 is connected with a terminal of the sensor 7or with a motor terminal 33.

(25) In the rotating device 1 in (24) above, the flexible board 8electrically connects the motor 3, the sensor 7, and the connectionterminal 4.

This configuration can absorb vibrations, if vibrations of the motor 3are transmitted to the flexible board 8. Accordingly, application ofhigh stress to the joint portions between the motor 3, the sensor 7, orthe connection terminal 4 and the flexible board 8 can be prevented, andthus and can prevent disconnection due to cracks or damages on the jointportions.

(26) In the rotating device 1 in (25) above, the sensor 7 includes abrush 75 formed with conductive member configured to be rotated togetherwith the output gear 5, and the board 700 provided with the wire. Theboard 700 provided with the wire includes a plurality of wires (firstwire pattern 701 and second wire pattern 702) in electrical contact withthe brush 75.

This configuration makes the relation between a displacement in contactpositions of the brush 75 relative to the wires and a change in voltagelinearly proportional. The rotational angle of the output gear 5 can beeasily detected from the change in voltage.

(27) The rotating device 1 includes the output gear 5 configured totransmit rotational power to an external device, the motor 3 configuredto rotate the output gear 5, the sensor 7 configured to detect thenumber of rotations or the rotational angle of the output gear 5, a gearand the housing 2 accommodating the gear, the motor 3, and the sensor 7.The sensor 7 includes the brush 75 configured to be rotated togetherwith the output gear 5, and the board 700 provided with an arc-shapedfirst wire pattern 701 and the arc-shaped second wire pattern 702 inelectrical contact with the brush 75. The board 700 provided with thewire is provided with a first hole 710 disposed at the center of thearc-shaped wire patterns and providing a interval fit to a rotatingshaft 51 of the output gear 5, and a second hole 720, a protrudingportion 218 provided to the housing 2 passing through the second hole720.

This configuration allows for accurate positioning and fixing of theboard 700 provided with the wire with a difference between the center ofthe arc-shaped wire patterns and the center of rotation of the brush 75as small as possible. Accordingly, the linearity (linear proportionalrelation) between the displacement in contact positions of the brush 75relative to the wire patterns and the change in voltage is not degraded.

(28) In the rotating device 1 in (27) above, the housing 2 includes thefirst casing 21 and the second casing 22 opposing each other. The firstcasing 21 accommodates the output gear 5, the motor 3, and the sensor 7.The second casing 22 includes a first step portion 201 disposed betweenthe first casing 21 and the second casing 22. The first step portion 201supports the board 700 provided with the wire.

This structure allows the board 700 provided with wires to be disposedmore accurately parallel to the housing 2.

(29) In the rotating device 1 in (28) above, the rotating shaft 51 ofthe output gear 5 includes a step portion 515, the board 700 providedwith the wire being supported between the second casing 22 and the stepportion 515.

In this structure, the board 700 provided with wires is supported by thestep portion 515 by inserting the rotating shaft 51 in the first hole710. This configuration facilitates positioning and fixing of the board700 provided with wires.

(30) In the rotating device 1 in (29) above, the second casing 22includes a tubular support portion 228 configured to rotatably supportan end portion of the rotating shaft 51, a second step portion 202 beingformed at the tubular support portion 228. The first hole 710 of theboard 700 provided with the wire is disposed between the second stepportion 202 and the step portion 515 provided at the rotating shaft 51of the output gear 5.

This configuration allows for more accurate positioning and fixing ofthe board 700 provided with wires.

(31) In the rotating device 1 in (30) above, the protruding portion 218is provided to the first casing 21, and the board 700 provided with thewire is supported by the protruding portion 218, the first step portion201, and the second step portion 202.

This configuration allows the board 700 provided with wires to bedisposed more accurately parallel to the housing 2.

(32) In the rotating device 1 in (30) or (31) above, a interval withincertain tolerances is provided between the rotating shaft 51 of theoutput gear 5 and the first hole 710, between the protruding portion 218provided to the housing 2 and the second hole 720, and between the board700 provided with the wire and the protruding portion 218, the firststep portion 201, and the second step portion 202.

This configuration can prevent degradation of linearity (linearproportional relation) between a displacement in contact positions ofthe brush 75 relative to the wire patterns and a change in voltage asmuch as possible, and thus can control the rotational operation moreaccurately.

AT the embodiments as described above the crank-shaped connectionterminal 4 is used as a terminal. However, for example, the holdingmember 9 in (9) above can hold terminals in any shape. The bondingstructure between the board 700 provided with wires and the flexibleboard 8 using the solder 78 such as (10) above does not at all limit theshape of the terminal.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2018-102696 filed May 29, 2018, Japanese Patent Application No.2018-102697 filed May 29, 2018, and Japanese Patent Application No.2018-102698 filed May 29, 2018.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1 Rotating device

2 Housing

3 Motor

4 Connection terminal

5 Output gear

6 Transmission gear

7 Sensor

8 Flexible board

9 Holding member

20 Connector portion

21 First casing

22 Second casing

23, 24, 25, 26 Mounting portion

30 Body

31 Rotating shaft

32 Worm gear

33 Motor terminal

40 Bent portion

41 First extending portion

42 Second extending portion

51 Rotating shaft

52 Gear body

61 First transmission gear

62 Second transmission gear

75 Brush

78 Solder (bonding member)

81 First planar portion

82 Second planar portion

83 Third planar portion

91 Through-hole

201 First step portion

202 Second step portion

210 First surface portion

211 First sidewall

212 Opening

215 Fixing part

215 a First fixing part

215 b Second fixing part

216 Contact surface

216 a First contact surface

216 b Second contact surface

217 Recessed portion

218 Protruding portion

219 Projecting portion

219 a Wail portion

220 Second surface portion

221 Second sidewall

222 Opening

223 Engagement portion

224 Engagement step portion (step portion)

228 Support

229 Projecting portion

401 First corner

402 Second corner

403 Middle portion

510 Output part

511 Teeth

512 End portion

513 Teeth

515 Step portion

611 First large diameter portion

612 First small diameter portion

621 Second large diameter portion

622 Second small diameter portion

700 Board provided with wires

701 First wire pattern (wire)

702 Second wire pattern (wire)

703 Second land

703 a, 703 b, 703 c Land portion

710 First hole

720 Second hole

730 Third hole

751, 752 Contact

800 Bent portion

803 First land

805 Hole

810, 811 Flexible board

831 First land

832 Terminal-side land

833 Wire

a1 First support

a2 Second support

a3 Third support

1. A rotating device comprising: a motor; a connection terminalelectrically connecting the motor with an external device; and a housingaccommodating the motor and the connection terminal, wherein theconnection terminal includes a bent portion bent in a direction crossingan insertion direction or a removal direction of the connectionterminal, and the housing includes a contact surface in contact with thebent portion.
 2. The rotating device according to claim 1, wherein thehousing includes a fixing part configured to fix the bent portion, andthe fixing part includes the contact surface.
 3. The rotating deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the fixing part includes a recessedportion engaged with the bent portion.
 4. The rotating device accordingto claim 1, wherein the connection terminal is made of a bar-shapedmember.
 5. The rotating device according to claim 1, wherein theconnection terminal includes a polygonal cross-section.
 6. The rotatingdevice according to claim 1, comprising: a gear configured to transmitrotation of the motor to an external device; a sensor configured todetect a rotational angle of the motor; and a board electricallyconnecting the motor, the sensor, and the connection terminal, whereinthe board is made of a flexible film.
 7. The rotating device accordingto claim 1, comprising a plurality of terminals including the connectionterminal and a holding member configured to hold the plurality ofconnection terminals in a line.
 8. The rotating device according toclaim 1, wherein the bent portion includes a first corner and a secondcorner bent in opposite directions each other of a direction orthogonalto the removal direction, and includes a middle portion connecting thefirst corner with the second corner, and the connection terminalincludes the bent portion, a first extending portion extending in theremoval direction with an end extending toward outside of the housingfrom the first corner, and a second extending portion extending in theremoval direction from the second corner toward inside of the housing.9. A rotating device comprising: a motor; a plurality of connectionterminals electrically connecting the motor with an external device; anda housing accommodating the motor and the connection terminal, wherein aholding member configured to hold the plurality of connection terminalsis disposed at a fixing part of the housing.
 10. A rotating devicecomprising: a motor; a connection terminal electrically connecting themotor with an external device; and a housing accommodating the motor andthe connection terminal, wherein the connection terminal includes afirst end portion electrically connected with the external device, asecond end portion electrically connected with the motor, and a firstcorner and a second corner disposed between the first end portion andthe second end portion, and the housing is in contact with the firstcorner and the second corner.
 11. The rotating device according to claim10, wherein the housing includes a first housing and a second housing,the first housing includes a first engagement portion, the secondhousing includes a second engagement portion, and the first engagementportion and the second engagement portion of the housing are engagedwith the first corner and the second corner, respectively.
 12. Therotating device according to claim 11, wherein the first engagementportion and the second engagement portion are configured by acombination of a recessed portion, a protruding portion, and a stepportion.
 13. The rotating device according to claim 10, comprising aflexible board, wherein the flexible board electrically connects theconnection terminal with the motor.
 14. The rotating device according toclaim 13, comprising a plurality of gears and an angle sensor configuredto detect a rotational angle of the gears, wherein the flexible boardelectrically connects the connection terminal, the motor, and the anglesensor.
 15. The rotating device according to claim 10, comprising: aplurality of connection terminals including the connection terminal; anda holding member configured to hold the plurality of connectionterminals lined in a predetermined direction.
 16. A rotating devicecomprising: a motor; a connection terminal electrically connecting themotor with an external device; and a housing accommodating the motor andthe connection terminal, wherein the connection terminal includes afirst end portion electrically connected with the external device, asecond end portion electrically connected with the motor, and a firstbent portion and a second bent portion disposed between the first endportion and the second end portion of the connection terminal, and thefirst bent portion and the second bent portion are integrally formedwith the housing.
 17. A rotating device comprising: a motor; a boardprovided with a wire; and a flexible board electrically connecting theboard provided with the wire with the motor, wherein the flexible boardand the board provided with the wire are overlapped via a bondingmember, and the flexible board includes a first land including a hole,and the bonding member is in contact with a second land included in theboard provided with the wire through the hole.
 18. The rotating deviceaccording to claim 17, wherein the bonding member is straggled from aportion of the first land to a portion of the second land.
 19. Therotating device according to claim 17, wherein the flexible boardincludes a surface opposing the board provided with the wire and a sideportion, and the side portion includes a recess.
 20. The rotating deviceaccording to claim 17, comprising a terminal electrically connecting themotor with an external device, wherein the first land of the flexibleboard is electrically connected with the terminal.
 21. The rotatingdevice according to claim 20, wherein the flexible board includes a bentportion between an end portion connected with the terminal and anotherend portion provided with the first land.
 22. The rotating deviceaccording to claim 20, wherein a part of the flexible board is slit, andthe slit part extends from a terminal-side land connected with theterminal toward the first land.
 23. The rotating device according toclaim 22, wherein the flexible board includes a plurality of first landsincluding the first land, a plurality of terminal-side lands includingthe terminal-side land, and a plurality of the wires connecting theplurality of first lands with the plurality of terminal-side lands, andthe slit part is disposed between the plurality of the wire.
 24. Therotating device according to claim 22, comprising: a gear configured totransmit rotation of the motor to an external device; and a sensorconfigured to detect a rotational angle or number of rotations of thegear, wherein the terminal-side land of the flexible board is connectedwith the terminal or a land of a board provided with an electroniccomponent, and the first land of the flexible board is connected with aterminal of the sensor or a terminal of the motor.
 25. The rotatingdevice according to claim 24, wherein the flexible board electricallyconnects the motor, the sensor, and the connection terminal.
 26. Therotating device according to claim 25, wherein the sensor includes abrush configured to be rotated together with the gear and formed ofelectrically conductive member, and the board provided with the wire,and the board provided with the wire includes a plurality of wires inelectrical contact with the brush.
 27. A rotating device comprising: agear; a motor configured to rotate the gear; a sensor configured todetect number of rotations or a rotational angle of the gear; and ahousing accommodating the gear, the motor, and the sensor, wherein thesensor includes a brush configured to be rotated together with the gear,and a board provided with an arc-shaped wire in electrical contact withthe brush, and the board provided with the wire is provided with a firsthole disposed inside of the arc-shaped wire and rotatable with respectto a rotating shaft of the gear, and a second hole allowing passage of aprotruding portion provided to the housing.
 28. The rotating deviceaccording to claim 27, wherein the housing includes a first housing anda second housing facing each other, the first housing accommodates thegear, the motor, and the sensor, the second housing includes a firststep portion disposed between the first housing and the second housing,and the first step portion supports the board provided with the wire.29. The rotating device according to claim 28, wherein the rotatingshaft of the gear includes a step portion, configured to support theboard provided with the wire between the second housing and the stepportion.
 30. The rotating device according to claim 29, wherein thesecond housing includes a tubular support portion configured torotatably support an end portion of the rotating shaft of the gear, thetubular support portion including a second step portion, and the firsthole of the board provided with the wire is disposed between the secondstep portion and the step portion provided at the rotating shaft of thegear.
 31. The rotating device according to claim 30, wherein theprotruding portion is provided to the first housing, and the boardprovided with the wire is supported by the protruding portion, the firststep portion, and the second step portion.
 32. The rotating deviceaccording to claim 30, wherein a interval is provided each of betweenthe rotating shaft of the gear and the first hole, between theprotruding portion and the second hole, and between the board providedwith the wire and the protruding portion, the first step portion, andthe second step portion.